I had a 1/8 inch stick the other night which I needed to make just a bit smaller to fit in a tight spot for a filler. I had cut it to length first and had a problem holding it so I could sand it. I discovered by accident if I laid it on a piece of sandpaper OF A COURSER GRIT than on my sanding block the stick stayed in place with nothing else holding it. I had so much fun with it, I had to cut a new piece and start over!

Have you ever wanted to sand something flush with out sanding the material it is attached to? For instance, after gluing on a wing tip you don't want to sand the sheeting. Apply a strip of duct tape or masking tape to one end of your sanding block. Just cover a couple of inches of one end. The tape rides on the sheeting and no sanding action takes place on that end. You can sand to your hearts content, right down to very close or even flush without worry.

These tips may have been "discovered" before. But they are a first for me. I started the hobby back in "75". I guess I'm a late bloomer


Ken

Along that same line with the masking tape to protect an area you don't want to sand. Sometimes you'll sand the tape so that when you try to remove it, part of the tape/adhesive sticks to the wood and doesn't come off with the bulk of it. For a long time I just picked it off a small piece at a time with an xacto blade. The other day I tried one of those rather large soft pink rubber erasers we used in elementary school and wow what a surprise! It removed all the pieces quickly and easily and did no harm to the wood. Try it you'll like it!

Pink eraser, huh! Who knew!

Thanks for the tips, guys. Good info.

Dave Olson

I did the same thing, and grew tired of picking leftovers off the wood. There are times though when your method is the only way. I'll keep the pink rubber eraser in mind! Who wooda thunk Great tip!!!


Any other hot tips out there?

Great advice guys, it is so simple but it works so well!!!
Cheers

Bundu

This thread should be a sticky. Why let everyones wisdon fall off the page. Everyone can add there tips!

skeeter

I'll throw one in: Back when all we had were kits, I had a problem sanding the turtle deck and nose to a good round shap. So i took a 4' long piece of 2" wide Duct tape. I stuck to it three 2"x 12" pieces of sand paper. The extra 6" at each end I folded over onto it's self for a handle. The basicly made a 3' long sanding belt. I held the fuse between my knees and pulled the belt back and forth like I was polishing a shoe. I ended up making three different grits and still use them from time to time today.

David

To make a nice sanding pad that has several (4) surfaces...

I take a sheet of sandpaper. You can make this sheet any size. Fold in half with a good crease. Now fold in half 90 degrees from your first fold so you wind up with 4 "quarters" in you sheet. Now tear or cut along one of your folds to the center of the sheet. Fold this flap in first and follow by folding the rest of the sheet so you wind up with a nice pad 1/4 the size of your original. By unfolding and refolding you will get two new sanding surfaces.

The sanding surface will only touch the back of the sandpaper so no dulling will occur. You always have some sand to help you fingers to grip the pad. You can use a whole sheet of paper or a piece an inch square. Ya I've done the 1 inch thing, but don't recommend it

Ken